Happy New Year
Ah, another year coming to a close.
Time for resolutions and for some of you, black eyed peas.
Like most of you, I find it fairly easy to make New Year’s resolutions, but it’s much harder to stay on point and keep them throughout the year.
For the past few years, my resolutions have been few. I try to remember that each day is a new one and that we need to work toward our goals each day, not just at the turn of the yearly calendar.
I always resolve to read more and set a book goal. I haven’t reached it yet, but maybe one day I will.
We typically update our vision board around this time of the year and most likely, I will do it this weekend while we have another long weekend.
I make up a new business plan and try to remember to re-visit it quarterly. This year, I will add a social media plan to my plan and maybe make it more visual as well, so I can see it from my desk each day.
And I always resolve to become more organized. My filing cabinets in The Belle Writer’s Studio are overflowing and I need to organize my digital files in a more logical way.
But the best advice with regards to resolutions was posted on Facebook yesterday from one writing colleague and friend to another: “Maybe the goal is to find something in 2012 just for yourself–a place, a hobby, whatever–that makes you happy and gives you peace.”
That’s the best advice and one we realized when we moved to Our Little House. I wish for all of our Living Large community the same.
What are your goals/resolutions for 2012?
Look for a post tomorrow with a cool New Year’s book giveaway!
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I like the sentiment expressed by many here — less resolutions and more openness to change and growth. Sounds like a good plan to me. And do tell re the black eyed peas reference. I’m in the dark.
Black eyed peas are a traditional meal for New Year’s to bring luck, health and happiness into the coming year. I don’t like them, so I don’t think they would work for me! 😉
I’m still deciding on a few New Year’s resolutions. In the past, like Sheryl, I’ve avoided them, thinking I was dooming myself to failure. But this year, I think it’s about time.
Good luck on them!
To listen to my higher guidance from within and act accordingly – that’s my practice for these coming days/weeks/months/years.
Your post reminded me of something I read on Facebook, a cartoon actually. It was a drawing of two dogs (or was it people?…it doesn’t matter…it’s the caption that says it all)…the caption said something to the effect of: New Years resolutions are actually next week’s to-do list. I guess that’s supposed to mean people start out gung-ho, then lag? All I know is that the concept of resolutions has never really stuck with me. I prefer to think of changes as practicing something different.
I saw the same cartoon, Merr. Yes, we all start out so gun-ho and then quit. I think it’s better to just think of our entire lives as a new day, a new beginning.
Is it New Year’s already? Where did this year go? No resolutions so far. Guess I’m like Samoa that lost a day, only I lost more, about two months.
Sometimes I feel more like Rip VanWinkle, Alexandra!
My resolution is NOT to make resolutions (since I end up breaking them) but instead, to look upon the new year as an opportunity for continued growth, learning and discovering new things about myself and the world.
That is a great attitude, Sheryl!
Like your FB friend, I always have a goal to find happiness with what I’m doing – 2011 has been a HUGE year in terms of finding my place, so I hope for even more happy successes in the coming year. But yes, I should also read more. 🙂
Happy New Year!
So glad you’ve already found some of that happiness and peace for yourself, Casey. Here’s to a great 2012 and more of it!
I agree with personal goals for a Happy “ME” I love my down time and treasure the quiet but I am also a social animal when I want to be.. so I want to keep that happy medium with what I got going now.. but health has become and issue so I will see 2012 as becoming my year to be healthier and make wise choices..and go back to walking those 10ks with my girls…
I also want to get back to walking too, Becky. I haven’t been doing enough of it. Thanks for the reminder!
I’m with you both, Kerri and Faun. It seems like making resolutions for the New Year just sets you up for failure. I don’t consider business goals as resolutions, but a completely different animal. I usually don’t achieve most of those either.
My goal for a pleasurable cause is to read more fiction that I like, get better at reviewing books and maybe even get paid for book reviews. I love finding new authors and ones that talk to you on Facebook or Goodreads.com.
I’m right there with you on the reading, Heather. Let’s hope we can do that!
I’m a librarian, so I’m all for people reading more 🙂
I’m a writer, Faun, and should read way more than I do these days! 😉
That sounds like a worthy goal in and of itself, Faun!
My only goal for 2012 is to cease striving for self-improvement. I’m taking a break from the incessant need to better myself. I’m focusing on pleasure instead.